When hiring an architect, there are a number of things you want to keep in mind and consider. There are also many misconceptions about architects, especially concerning what many of them actually do. Very few of them work on homes, and the ones who do are called residential architects. Likewise, your first order of business is narrowing down the type of architect you want depending on their specialty, and this blog will focus squarely on residential architects. Building Advisor explains the different categories of residential projects (http://buildingadvisor.com/your-team/architects/) like design development or construction administration, and you want to narrow down exactly what you need before you even start looking for architects.

Once you have determined these specifics, it is time to start researching architects. All architects should be listed under the index of American Institute of Architects, which will give you a guide of architects in your area. Not only do you want them to have a solid portfolio, but you also want to ask each of them questions that pertain to your particular project. Ask them about their architecture style and what services they provide (managing the project and firm, handling the contractors, provide clear payment schedules, etc.). Cost is also a big factor. House Logic says that a normal architect price is anywhere from 5% to 20% of the overall project cost, and anything outside those numbers should be treated with suspicion. They also typically charge you monthly, so keep that in mind when planning your payments.

You do not want to meet with simply one architect, as getting sense of different personalities will help you pick the one that suits you specifically. Ask each of your interviewees about how they would approach the project, what they think of your building plans, and that their schedule works with yours. Again, learning how they handle payments is important too. Once you select the architect that works best for you, make sure both sides are completely clear about everything in the contract and design plans, including a timetable of work and fees. Getting legal advice about your contract is also not a bad idea, just to guarantee you are protected.

]]>Bathroom Renovation Tipshttp://aaadevelopment.biz/uncategorized/bathroom-renovation-tips/
Thu, 26 Jun 2014 19:30:31 +0000http://aaadevelopment.biz/?p=826Behind kitchen renovations, remodeling your bathroom is the most common project among people who have either recently moved into a new home or just want to spruce things up. Before hiring a contractor, however, there are a number of things you first want to take into consideration. Take a trip to your local hardware store to check out the different types of faucets, showers, and tiles you want, and plan your budget accordingly. Decide whether you merely want to switch out surfaces and mirrors or if you want a full, ground-up renovation. If you opt for the latter, freshome.com recommends doing a “full gut” of your bathroom to uncover hidden problems like water damage and aging plumbing.

Once you get a good mental image of what you want your new bathroom to look like, you will want to begin the search for your contractor. Reference our previous blog on looking for the right contractor for an in-depth guide, but on a basic level, you want to find someone who has done solid prior work. Ask contractors for references and see their work for yourself if you can. Though you want to find a reasonable bid, there are a few additional things you can do yourself to free up your budget. HGTV suggests keeping the same floor plan if possible to cut costs without cheapening the final product, or limiting the places tile is used. However, limestone tile is not recommended, as it absorbs water instead of resisting it.

If you are going the “full gut” route, replacing all the circuitry is probably a smart idea too. Especially if your house is older, the existing wires have probably been worn down from use, so consider electricity a smart use of your renovation budget. Toilets also wear down over time, and even if you are not completely replacing your toilet, new handles and chains are a cheap expense. When thinking about your countertop, different materials come with their various pros and cons. Natural stone countertops like granite tend to expensive not just in the short-term, but in the long-term since it needs to be re-sealed regularly. The alternatives are not as glamorous, but if you need to cut costs, it’s an easy decision.

Be careful of cutting too many corners with your budget, though, especially for vital non-cosmetic details like plumbing and light fixtures that are worth the full expense. You want the job done right the first time. This Old House points out that if you plan on adding a multi-head shower or soaker tub, you may need to also change your water heater to accommodate needing to supply you more hot water. In addition, while this may seem like common sense at first, make sure your contractor knows to place all mirrors, handles, and shelves at a height that everyone in your household can reach, especially if they have not met everyone you live with.

]]>Remodeling Your Kitchen Do’s & Don’tshttp://aaadevelopment.biz/uncategorized/remodeling-kitchen-dos-donts/
Fri, 20 Jun 2014 17:46:05 +0000http://aaadevelopment.biz/?p=823Kitchens are the most commonly remodeled part of households, especially for people who have recently moved in. While wanting to give your kitchen an overhaul is natural, you want to make sure the job is done the right way. When hiring a contractor to remodel your kitchen, there are a number of things you want to consider beforehand. If you have not read our previous blog discussing what to look for when hiring contractor, it explains many of the more general basics. But when a kitchen specifically is involved, there are some additional things to keep in mind.

Having an architectural drawing of your kitchen is a big help to both you and your contractor. This is so they know where all the electrical outlets, pipes, ventilation, and so forth are before they start working. In addition to wanting to change the tiles and surfaces, chances are one of your big reasons for remodeling is your need for more cooking space or more storage. Figure these out first and prioritize them so your contractor knows exactly how to renovate your kitchen to best suit your needs, whether you need more cabinets, a wider stove, enough space for more than one person to cook, etc.

Of course, cost is also a big factor, and certain materials that are more expensive may not necessarily be better. For example, This Old House advises to limit the use of granite to only the most necessary surfaces. While popular and heat resistant, granite is extremely pricey, and ceramic tile will get the job done just as well in less visible areas. HGTV recommends that the price for stone countertops is well worth it, especially if one is in the middle of your kitchen, but feel free to save costs elsewhere. At the same time, however, you should value the input of your general contractor, as while kitchens are the most commonly remodeled rooms, they are also one of the more complex ones.

There are also a number of common mistakes you want to avoid. For appliances like stoves and refrigerators, do not buy anything without a warranty, especially since you will be using these appliances often. When comparing bids from contractors, do not just get an overall figure. Get individual figures for countertops, flooring, lighting, plumbing, and cabinets to ensure you are not being scammed out of one aspect of the overall project. On the same note, be wary of suspiciously low figures among your bidders, as they may be cutting corners to sell you their work.

]]>What to Look for When Hiring a General Contractor for Remodeling your Homehttp://aaadevelopment.biz/uncategorized/look-hiring-general-contractor-remodeling-house/
Fri, 13 Jun 2014 17:33:35 +0000http://aaadevelopment.biz/?p=804General Contractor

Remodeling or Complete Building Design

It’s natural to want to remodel parts of your home, whether you have just moved in and something does not sit quite right, or simply to liven things up after a while. Instead of hiring just anyone to remodel, though, it’s best to consider a number of things to choose the right contractor for the job. First and foremost, you want to find someone who is fully licensed and insured. Depending on your state, the rules will actually differ, so your first step should be to visit contractors-license.org and verify that your general contractor meets the requirements. While all this may seem obvious, it is in your best interests to protect yourself just in case.

Determining Cost of Project

Price is going to be a big factor in finding the right contractor. Get price offers from multiple contractors and compare them against each other. Keep in mind that the cheapest deal may not necessarily be the best deal. There may be a catch involved (like further payments down the line) or they may be using inferior materials to the other contractors. You want the job done right the first time around so you do not have to keep paying for additional contract work. Of course, this does not mean the most expensive offer will yield the best results either. Take the best deal that is not a serious outlier compared to everyone else’s offers.

Contract Agreement

Part of the word “contractor” is “contract”, after all, and you want to make sure all sides are clear on the job being done before any work is started. You want your contractor to clearly communicate to you every detail of this contract and what work will be done, in addition to payments and deadlines. If a contractor is being vague with you, that might signify that they are cutting corners somewhere or might attempt to gouge more money out of you down the road. Speaking of payments, US News Money suggests not paying more than 30% up front (and usually much less), staggering your payments over the course of the project until your demands are met, and leaving the final 10-15% for when everything is completed.

Recommendations and Testimonials

It is also a good idea to get a history on your contractor and ensure that they have a good track record. Ask them for examples of their previous projects. If they want your money and trust, they will comply. They should answer all of your questions clearly. Thisoldhouse.com recommends also asking how many projects they are currently working on, and if they have too many, that might be of some concern about how much attention they will pay to your own. If you can, seeing their past projects in person will give you a great idea of the job they are capable of.

Another great way to get reviews is check out your prospective contractor on third party review sites, like Yelp, Angies List, Houzz, or any of the other review sites.

Choosing the right building contractor is not easy, but the main objective is to do your research and make sure they are properly licensed and insured. If you would like any more information or are looking for a building contractor please feel free to email or call us.

The owner of Camarillo Bridal was in need of a larger location to handle her growing clientele. After much deliberation, they decided on relocating to the old Hollywood Video location on Arneill Road in Camarillo. The scope of the project was to completely redo the interior of this building as well as allow for all the space needed to accommodate the growing clientele. The need for additional storage and space was well laid out by the designer and architect. Multiple dressing rooms and an area designed with mirrors to showcase the new bride was an essential part of the spacial planning.

Unusual Problems and/or Challenges:

The Dome

An essential design feature of this location is the architectural dome over the bridal showcase area. This was difficult due to its size and the need for it to be perfectly concentric. It was constructed off site and delivered and installed in its current location.

Overall Results:

The owner is extremely happy with the new location and has seen an increase in traffic and sales due to the new location. We were excited to be a part of the project and are reminded of our work as we pass by this project on a daily basis.

[nggallery id=8]

]]>AAA Development signs another Tenant Improvementhttp://aaadevelopment.biz/uncategorized/aaa-development-signs-another-tenant-improvement/
Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:36:36 +0000http://aaadevelopment.biz/?p=499AAA Development, Inc. has recently entered into a contract to provide design build services as well as perform the tenant improvement to a large commercial property in Camarillo. AAA Development is excited about working with their new client Sani-Tech.
]]>AAA Development signs design/build Tenant Improvement in Camarillohttp://aaadevelopment.biz/uncategorized/aaa-development-signs-designbuild-tenant-improvement-in-camarillo/
Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:58:26 +0000http://aaadevelopment.biz/?p=453AAA Development, Inc. entered into a design build agreement last week to perform a design/build for a local manufacturing company. The project will include architectural and design to help the company meet its growing needs. AAA Development, Inc. will also be performing the work as soon as the plans are received back from the city’s planning department.
]]>Kitchen Remodel in Oak Park By AAA Developmenthttp://aaadevelopment.biz/uncategorized/kitchen-remodel-in-oak-park/
Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:52:11 +0000http://aaadevelopment.biz/?p=234Project and Design Scope:

The homeowner wanted to achieve a kitchen that was modern yet functional with a family of five. Cabinets were to be maple and countertops to be solid surface. Immediately the cabinet design was turned over to our cabinet guy to do a custom design. After numerous meetings and looking at countless photographs, a European modern design for the doors was agreed upon. Material was a fiddleback maple sequenced and book matched with a stain color to be determined upon selection of the countertops and flooring. Walnut Travertine floors were chosen for look and neutrality as the cabinets and countertops were to be the focal point of the kitchen. Stainless Steel was chosen as the color for all fixtures, pulls and appliances. Countertops were turned over to our stone fabricator and after going to the slab yard, an exotic “Verde Lilium” was chosen and a waterfall book matched eased edge detail was chosen.

Additional Work Orders:

During the project the homeowner decided to add a nice desk area next to the kitchen with the same style cabinets and marble countertops. In addition to that, a French door was cut into where a window was to allow for quicker access to the kitchen from the outside and three rivers stone was laid to accommodate the new walkway.

Unusual Problems and/or Challenges

December 23rd deadline

Part of the condition of this project was for the homeowner to have a functioning kitchen in time for the Christmas holiday, which meant quick turnarounds on cabinets, quick fabrication of the countertops while maintaining high quality.

Post-tension slab and existing plumbing

One issue was not being able to saw cut the slab to move existing plumbing in the slab due to the time constraints. The cabinetmaker, the client and I met to resolve this issue with the new island. We were able to have the plumber do some tricky routing inside the cabinet in the toe kick as well as modify the drawers to allow the correct positioning of the island.

Fiddleback maple and snow

The maple wood was picked up and taken back to the cabinet shop and after careful examination, it was noticed that the material was not book matched. New material was ordered and when it came in to the warehouse in Van Nuys, CA, The cabinet maker picked it up and tried to take it to his shop, but was delayed by 3 days due to the snow level in Southern California dropping to 1,500 feet.

Marble Countertop cracked upon installation

After the island countertop was installed, a small hairline crack became evident and after making a weekend trip to the jobsite, we decided to replace it. Fortunately, the stone fabricator had put extra slabs on hold in the marble yard in case of a problem. He immediately called the yard, had the new slab delivered to his shop and had the new island installed by the 21st of December, which allowed for the plumbing fixtures to be reinstalled in time for the December 23rd deadline.

Relationship to Existing Home and Neighborhood

The existing project flowed well with the existing wood floors in the remainder of the house and although the house is not too old, it meshes well with other design features from the original builder

Homeowner Objectives and Needs

The homeowner was told she was crazy for starting a kitchen remodel that was to be completed before Christmas but we were able to schedule and allocate resources effectively, that doesn’t mean we didn’t have some late nights and some weekend work either.

Overall Results

The results were a success measured by the letter of recommendation I asked the homeowners to write for us. And yes we did make the December 23rd deadline for the kitchen aspect of the project.